Eric Lovelin Photography

Caution: Flying Fish

2012-02-01T06:23:00.000-08:00

If you've never been to Pike Place Market in Seattle, surely you have an idea of some of the offerings at the market. Maybe someone has told you about the inexpensive but beautiful flower arrangements available from vendors. Perhaps you've even seen footage of men throwing freshly-caught fish near the entrance to the market. But as I discovered--when my camera and my eye were on the hunt for red objects--there are many other fish offerings throughout the Pike Place Market besides the infamous stand at the entrance.

Ok, you're right. That's not a real fish. It's neon red. But here's what was hiding behind that stunningly red offering...

Pike Place Market is definitely a place to stroll, browse, meander. And with a camera in hand, you may discover more than you ever thought possible. I look forward to another trip soon!
_______________
Eric
Eric Lovelin Photography

Pin It

Too Easy

2012-01-30T06:37:00.000-08:00

On my recent photo walk at Pike Place Market with the Microsoft Photo Club, it seemed almost too easy to capture images that were red. After all, anything related to the market would be colored red to match the iconic logo. While there was much to capture colored red, I was challenged to think differently about how to compose and highlight that color.

As we walked outside of the Pike Place Market, I loved the soft rain on this beautifully clean black car. The red of the taillight just popped. And it wasn't even until I got home that I realized the reflection of the market neon in the rear of the car - more red!

While I'm not in love with this image, I do love the dynamic reverse side of the stop sign. I just refused to capture the sign from the front - it seemed too apparent and easy. Nevertheless, from this angle, there is no doubt I was at the market, looking toward the cute shops in Post Alley.
_______________
Eric
Eric Lovelin Photography

Pin It

Seeing Red

2012-01-27T06:38:00.000-08:00

I feel like I've used "Seeing Red" as a blog entry title before. I'm sure I made the remark at that time that I'm not angry about anything nor am I referring to the nickname my friend Chris gave me in graduate school. Instead, I'm excited to share with you all some images from my recent photo walk with the Microsoft Photo Club! We met at Pike Place Market in Downtown Seattle and challenged ourselves to photograph this famous space in new and inventive ways.

This new way to shoot the market was to select a color at random (select a card from the hat!) and focus on creative ways to capture that color at Pike Place. Now that doesn't mean photograph everything that's red, but rather to let red inspire you to capture new textures, angles, and creative compositions that highlight that color in some way.

It was a great exercise and I have many more images to share with you in the coming days! The image directly above was one of the first I snapped. While we stood at that famous pig near where they throw fish, I found myself staring at the bold primary colors in this billboard. As soon as I drew red, I knew that I had to capture it - don't those legs just jump off that advertising?
_______________
Eric
Eric Lovelin Photography
Pin It

Puppies

2012-01-25T06:34:00.000-08:00

What is it that we love most about puppies? Is it their never-ending energy and desire to play? Do we love the mild clumsiness as they still learn how to work all of their legs? Or is it that puppy breath? I suppose that an "All of the Above" option would be most applicable here.

As I've previously mentioned, we had a full house of humans and dogs at the holidays. My future sister-in-law's boyfriend Tyler brought Remy, his beautiful black labradoodle puppy. With a chocolate lab puppy always close by and our stubborn, little cockapoo occasionally getting in the mix, there was much trouble to found and fun to be had. Remy, Birdy, and Drifter (should I call him Drifty for consistency?) discovered things to chew on we didn't even know would be attractive in the house and back yard. But there were also moments, however brief, of peace when I could capture some images of Remy!

Adorable, right?

_______________
Eric
Eric Lovelin Photography

Pin It

Goodbye Snow

2012-01-23T06:39:00.000-08:00

Well it was a fun week here in the Seattle area. Closed schools, packed snow, icy conditions, working from home, playing in the snow, and dinner with friends who rode a sled to our apartment! There were warm soup dinners and cold walks with the dog. All in all, it was a great week but I think the region is ready to get back to our normal winter weather.

Here are my final winter images from our afternoon walk to Roanoke Park. Drifter loved playing in the snow and I had a great time capturing some images of the white stuff before it melted away.

How cute is Drifter watching traffic on the freeway?

I have to warn you that I have some adorable puppy images coming up on the blog, as well as some images from a photo walk I took yesterday with the Microsoft Photography Club. Stay tuned!
_______________
Eric
Eric Lovelin Photography

Pin It

On Standby

2012-01-20T06:32:00.000-08:00

I think the great thaw has begun. Instead of the sounds of sleet coating the packed snow I heard yesterday morning or the utter quietness that newly-fallen snow brings, this morning I hear wetness, melted snow on the roadways and the dripping that comes with thawing winter weather! It's been pleasant to not have to commute and enjoyable to watch Drifter play in the snow. And not having to venture into the cold weather and wait for the bus has been delightful.

At the same time, I think Seattle is ready to get over some growing cabin fever and return to normal. Two of our friends from college rode a borrowed sled down to our apartment last night for drinks, delicious dinner, and casual conversation. It was great to have company after limited social interaction during the storm - thanks for the visit Debbi and Graham!! I'll also be excited to see something different on the TV once the local news channels decide that 12 hours of continued coverage of Winter Extreme or Snow-maggedon is maybe a bit excessive!

Until then, please enjoy these winter images.

_______________
Eric
Eric Lovelin Photography

Pin It

Snow Days

2012-01-19T06:35:00.000-08:00

Well yesterday turned out to be a snow day for me, with heavy wet snow falling much of the day here in the Seattle area. As flakes fell, I worked from home, nestled under a blanket to keep warm and cozy. On a lunch break from my work, it was a delight to walk the neighborhood with Drifter and Molly, watch as he buried his face in the snow drifts, and observe kids with sleds and snowmen. We received only 3 inches of the white stuff yesterday, but that's enough to really close this hilly city with limited winter weather resources.

I've got a few pictures to share with you from our outing this past weekend, including the image above. It was just too wet and cold yesterday to capture images. And today, Seattle is being treated to an ice storm to cover that build up of snow. Stay safe!

_______________
Eric
Eric Lovelin Photography

Pin It

Bundled Up & Stylish

2012-01-18T07:30:00.000-08:00

We're experiencing a bit of winter weather here in Seattle. While on our way to the gym on Sunday, Molly and I were forced to turn around as heavy, wet snow began to accumulate on the numerous hilly streets surrounding our house. It was mostly gone by midday Monday, but overnight snow has now blanketed the city again and promises to continue falling through lunch. Initial estimates were 4 to 14 inches of snow, but it appears Seattle proper may only see 2-4 at this point. Nevertheless, it seems like a great day to bundle up and maybe capture some photos late this afternoon when the flurries have subsided.

I look forward to sharing some of my images with you from a walk in the park on Sunday. In the mean time, I'd like to present Drifter's beautiful Christmas sweater, a gift from Molly's parents. It's warm and stylish and without a doubt I think he loves wearing it. I'm sure of that. I think.

Perhaps we'll even slip it on today so Drifter can get in the mood as he stares out the window at the powder building on the hot tub and neighborhood streets.

A Sleepy Puppy

_______________
Eric
Eric Lovelin Photography

Pin It

Christmas Couple

2012-01-12T06:37:00.000-08:00

There was a full house on Christmas Eve with Molly's family in Chico. Six grown adults can be a challenge at the holidays, especially if strong personalities are present. But if you add in four dogs, two of which are puppies, anything can happen. Again, I think we were fairly lucky to be able to give the dogs enough attention to tire them out and allow us to enjoy our Christmas Eve feast and Christmas Day celebrations.

And I was glad that things went smoothly, mostly because Hanna had invited her new boyfriend, Tyler. Most of the family had met him already (save for me), but high-pressure holiday celebrations are a completely different ball game. I think everyone made it out alive and no worse for wear. And we had a bit of fun in the process. We look forward to hanging out with Hanna and Tyler again soon!
_______________
Eric
Eric Lovelin Photography

Pin It

You Don't Bring Me Flowers

2012-01-11T06:41:00.000-08:00

We actually, he did. Tyler, Hanna's new boyfriend, showed up with fresh yellow roses on Christmas Day. I couldn't resist capturing an image of these blooms, which were just beginning to peel back and say hello at the holidays. Also, my apologies for the Neil Diamond/Barbra Streisand song reference in the blog title. Here's hoping you don't have that late 70's song stuck in your head today.

Did you know that today yellow roses are associated with joy and friendship? Obviously Tyler did. But when they were first discovered in the 18th century and introduced to Europe, the color yellow had much more negative overtones. Because of this, for a long time yellow roses were a symbol of jealousy and dying love. It's good to see that trend has changed, with yellow roses now a sign of appreciation and delight.
_______________
Eric
Eric Lovelin Photography

Pin It

Santa's Favorite?

2012-01-10T06:29:00.000-08:00

Growing up, Melissa and I sometimes argued about which of us was the favorite child. At Christmas, with four dogs in the house, the oldest canine wished to make her presence known. Lulu had received the little dress item you see below from a family friend, and seemed happy to wear it on Christmas morning. By that I mean that she instantly trotted throughout the house after I slipped it on to show it off to all who would look at her. She wanted us to know she was Santa's Favorite.

It did seem to be the perfect Christmas day outfit for Lulu, though we had to remind her not to let her skirt blow up as she pranced about.
_______________
Eric
Eric Lovelin Photography

Pin It

Christmas Citrus

2012-01-09T06:33:00.000-08:00

For me, Christmas just wouldn't be the same without mass quantities of mandarin oranges. If you're buying "Cuties" at the grocery store in the Northwest or elsewhere, you're missing out on the deliciousness that is a large, ripe Satsuma from the Sacramento Valley. While visiting Molly's family in Chico, a large bowl of mandarins sat in the living room for consumption throughout the day. It never emptied but I can't recall exactly how many of those delicious fruit segments I consumed over the holiday. Lounging near the fireplace, I'd toss the peels in to be incinerated at the next fire, imparting a mild citrus scent as the flames build.

And while we love mandarins, nothing quite beats our dog's fascination with this fruit. There's an unwritten rule in our house that Drifter gets at least one segment each time a mandarin orange is peeled. He stares, pants, intimidates, begs, and whines until he gets that segment - he even scratched at the gate in front of the fireplace one afternoon after Christmas to let us know he was hungry for a mandarin. At this point, I'm surprised his coat (and our skin) hasn't turned orange from the vast quantities of fruit consumed in the last week.

_______________
Eric
Eric Lovelin Photography

Pin It

Waistlines

2012-01-05T06:18:00.000-08:00

We all know that the push for additional exercise, better eating, and new gym memberships in the New Year sometimes has direct ties to someone's long history of poor health and a desire to finally make that change. But I'm also realizing that this can be a knee-jerk reaction to several weeks of poor choices made at work, around family, and while traveling, where sweets, fatty foods, and comfort-on-a-plate abound. On the latter point, perhaps I'm just speaking for myself.

Nevertheless, sometimes you just need a delicious, fudgy chocolate cookie to get through the holidays. Or an entire tin of them. Holiday snacking can be like Pringles, you just can't stop. Especially when that snacking includes Janet Baker's famous (at least in some circles) fudgies. I can't share this age-old secret family recipe, but I can tell you that they have the delicious chewy fudge interior with the exterior crispness of a cookie, and they only get better with time. Also, with a healthy dose of sweetened-condensed milk, these are definitely a winter-waistline, storing-up-for-hibernation cookie!
_______________
Eric
Eric Lovelin Photography

Pin It

2012-01-03T07:08:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it's been almost a month since I've sent a blog entry your way. In my mind, I've been capturing images, processing them, and letting them stack up in the hopes of getting these entries written in my early mornings over my first cup of coffee. So much for good intentions...

But I'm back in Seattle after the holidays in California and Oregon and am looking forward to sharing some new images with you. They range from food to family and more and span the holiday spectrum. I think the image below, of our beloved Drifter, adequately represents my holiday hangover as I head back to work today.

Wishing you all a Happy 2012!

_______________
Eric
Eric Lovelin Photography

Pin It

Goodbye Color

2011-12-07T07:23:00.000-08:00

We're slowly leaving the beautiful colors of Autumn behind. The temperatures have dropped here in Seattle, we've seen frost and ice across town, and occasional rain is helping the last leaves to fall to the ground. But with those fall colors that have painted the Northwest landscape behind us, it's now time to focus on green, the deep forest green that invades our homes through Christmas trees and wreaths. I noticed a bit of that green recently at, of all places, Green Lake.

So say goodbye to those vibrant oranges, yellows, and reds, and welcome in the deep green of the holidays.
_______________
Eric
Eric Lovelin Photography

Who, Me?

2011-12-05T06:22:00.000-08:00

If you haven't yet read my description of my run-in with a squirrel at Green Lake Park, it was wonderful. We initially stopped because Drifter had spotted him and was hot on the pursuit. But as we neared, I realized the squirrel wasn't really afraid of the dog and was actually curious in me and my camera. Well that camera gave him a bit of love, snapping many a picture of the little guy.

At one point near the end of our "photo shoot," my imagination began to run wild as I'm positive that this squirrel was posing for me, working multiple angles and holding poses. At one point, he even looked straight at me and pulled his claw toward his chest as if to say, "Who, me? You want a photo of me?"

Why yes, Mr. Squirrel, I certainly did. Thank you for obliging.

_______________
Eric
Eric Lovelin Photography

Green Lake Wildlife

2011-12-01T06:41:00.000-08:00

After posting about our walk at Green Lake this week, I've received some interesting insights into wildlife present at the park. While we missed the red-eared slider turtles that have invaded the lake, we saw plenty of ducks and birds and little four-legged friends. And then there was this squirrel, heavily domesticated and extremely interested in my camera.

I must have stood for nearly 10 minutes photographing my new friend. He ran around the tree, paused, looked at me, looked away, changed angles. Yes, he was definitely posing for me!

A final image from Mr. Squirrel.

_______________
Eric
Eric Lovelin Photography

An Impressive Afternoon

2011-11-30T06:30:00.000-08:00

By now, you've most likely seen the beautiful colors we witnessed on our walk around Green Lake on my birthday. While I'm not sure that Drifter appreciated the beautiful shades of amber, red, green, and orange, he sure loved the smells and the plethora of leaves on the ground for him to water. While walking around Green Lake for the first time, it surprised me how drastically the view changes as one walks. And it's not just the homes and people around you that change.

Seattle has amazing geographic diversity as you spin in a circle, and we witnessed all of that at Green Lake. The nearby hills of Queen Anne, a peak to the cascades, a glimpse of downtown skyscrapers, and the numerous sights to see on the Green Lake waterfront. While the bright sunlight was not the best for certain types of photography, I think the image above captures what I witnessed on our walk!
_______________
Eric
Eric Lovelin Photography

Together

2011-11-29T06:22:00.000-08:00

We love to take the dog on walks, and not just to do his business in the neighborhood. Long walks through town or around Green Lake are a chance for us to chat, catch up, people watch, and sight-see. On our recent expedition, I noticed that we were not the only ones with this idea. Many couples were out for a jog, families brought out puppies and kids on wheels, and this pair paused from their loop around the lake to appreciate the autumn view.

I abruptly stopped in my tracks and pivoted to capture this image, cutting off the couple behind me I didn't realize were there. But I got a picture, and that's what counts!
_______________
Eric
Eric Lovelin Photography

A Beautiful Fall Afternoon

2011-11-28T06:43:00.000-08:00

On my birthday recently, Molly and I took Drifter on a walk around Green Lake in Seattle after a delicious meal at Portage Bay Café. Have you been there? It's delicious and their French Toast selections are not to be missed! Though this past trip I enjoyed winter grits with eggs, Beecher aged white cheddar, sauteed kale, and short ribs. Amazing.

Green Lake was abuzz on that recent Saturday afternoon. Hundreds of Seattleites bundled up for a run, rollerblade, or bike around the lake, taking advantage of the several days of sunshine with which we were blessed. It was brisk, but felt like the quintessential fall afternoon. Doesn't it look like it too?

I have many more images to share with you from our walk, but I hope you enjoy these images of Autumn as it quickly slips away from us!
_______________
Eric
Eric Lovelin Photography

Utterly Delicious

2011-11-21T06:00:00.000-08:00

For Halloween, I baked a delicious cookie for my coworkers. Somewhere on the internet machine I discovered this tasty baked good and couldn't pass up preparing it. After all, it does include brown butter and I am completely addicted to the richness, depth, and nuttiness this adds to baked goods. My only real complaint with these cookies? They're chewy all the way through and I wish I knew a way to give them a bit of crunch on the exterior.

All in all, I'd definitely make these again and then work hard not to eat the entire batch. But time is quickly running out, as we'll soon make the shift from pumpkin to peppermint as Christmas approaches.

Pumpkin Cookies with Brown Butter Icing

For the Cookies
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/4 teaspoons coarse salt
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 1/4 teaspoons ground ginger
3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
2 1/4 cups packed light-brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups canned solid-pack pumpkin (14 ounces)
3/4 cup evaporated milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

For the Icing
4 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
10 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon evaporated milk
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1. Make cookies: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg in a medium bowl; set aside.

2. Put butter and brown sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Mix in eggs. Reduce speed to low. Add pumpkin, evaporated milk, and vanilla; mix until well blended, about 2 minutes. Add flour mixture; mix until combined.

3. Transfer 1 1/2 cups batter to a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch plain tip (such as Ateco #806). Pipe 1 1/2-inch rounds onto parchment-lined baking sheets, spacing 1 inch apart. Bake cookies, rotating sheets halfway through, until tops spring back, about 12 minutes. Cool on sheets on wire racks 5 minutes. Transfer cookies to wire racks; let cool completely.

4. Make icing: Put confectioners' sugar in a large bowl; set aside. Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook, swirling pan occasionally, until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Immediately add butter to confectioners' sugar, scraping any browned bits from sides and bottom of pan. Add evaporated milk and vanilla; stir until smooth. Spread about 1 teaspoon icing onto each cookie. If icing stiffens, stir in more evaporated milk, a little at a time.

Enjoy!
_______________
Eric
Eric Lovelin Photography

Popping Up Everywhere

2011-11-14T06:00:00.000-08:00

If there's one thing that seems to grow quite naturally in the damp, wet climate Seattle affords, it would be mushrooms. While some are edible and I imagine that people claim some are even psychedelic, the one that popped up in our front yard was most likely just your ordinary, garden-variety cap mushroom.

How much does this remind you of the mushrooms that pop up in Super Mario Bros.?

I was happy to capture this mushroom early one recent morning, because shortly thereafter, the grounds crew that was working on landscaping and power washing our sidewalks rid the grass of many of these beautiful subjects.
_______________
Eric
Eric Lovelin Photography

A Final Look Around

2011-11-09T06:26:00.000-08:00

My list of photos to share with all of you is beginning to grow quite quickly. That often happens when I've captured lots of images in one location and want to slowly blog them and tell you a little about each. Well, let's take one final look around the Washington Park Arboretum, a beautiful place I can't wait to photograph again.

Don't you love the base of this old tree? Oh the stories it could tell... It instantly reminded me of the sprawling trunks covered in moss I saw at the Oregon Coast as a child.

I occasionally love to look up through the trees toward the sky. It can allow for some beautiful color and illuminate structure through contrast, as in this image.

And who doesn't love a good fire hydrant, especially if it's non-traditional, painted a jade-forest green with only a hint of red in the bright metal cap.

Thank you for taking the tour of the arboretum with me. I hope you enjoyed it and would love to hear what you liked the most!

_______________
Eric
Eric Lovelin Photography

Down for the Count

2011-11-07T06:50:00.000-08:00

When Molly and I took Drifter on a walk through Washington Park Arboretum, Molly encouraged me to bring my camera to capture items along the walk. Unless I'm out to specifically capture something or primarily shoot, I tend to try to balance my time between my camera and those around me. And since I've been on lots of these walks with Molly, she now points out things I love to shoot that I may have missed.

Now that doesn't often include leaves on the ground. You may recall that, at one point in time, I compulsively picked up and photographed leaves that had fallen, obsessed with their color, texture, and veining. I only captured on leaf from our trip through the arboretum and think my gaze downward was well worth it. This leaf seems to have fallen a bit before its time, still bright green but now with darkened decay marking the end of this leaf's life.
_______________
Eric
Eric Lovelin Photography

A Beautiful Afternoon

2011-11-04T06:31:00.000-07:00

Since it's now Fall now in Seattle, we're beginning to see cooler temperatures and wetter weather. But at the same time, we've had some brilliant afternoons, when the fog and clouds have burned off and the skies open up to a deep blue that contrasts beautifully against the reds and yellows dotting the landscape. Who wouldn't want to go for a walk here on an afternoon like that?

On our recent walk through Washington Park Arboretum, I just couldn't capture enough images of this staircase. I love the way it weaves and winds, works its way through the woods, and opens at the top to a landing at a beautifully large tree.

Enjoy your weekend!
_______________
Eric
Eric Lovelin Photography